Raphael Assuncao says he can train to fight new champ Dillashaw in eight weeks

LAS VEGAS – UFC bantamweight Raphael Assuncao said he was supposed to be in the cage with Renan Barao at Saturday’s UFC 173, but a rib injury forced him to heal up before getting a title shot.

With Barao now deposed by T.J. Dillashaw, the Brazilian standout told MMAjunkie he is ready to step up as the new champion’s first challenger.

“I’ve got to get a set of X-rays and an MRI to see how the soft tissues are inside, and go from there,” Assuncao (22-4 MMA, 6-1 UFC) said at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena after the UFC 173 headliner. “I think in another eight weeks, I should be completely healed.”

Right now, Assuncao said he’s only training to stay in shape and can’t engage in contact. He was not cleared by doctors to compete at UFC 173, which led the UFC to install Dillashaw as the next contender.

Dillashaw dominated Barao over four rounds before earning a finish in the fifth to claim the UFC bantamweight title. Assuncao owns a split decision over the new champ that he earned this past fall in Brazil.

Assuncao said he wasn’t surprised by the outcome of Saturday’s pay-per-view headliner, which was one of the bigger upsets in recent UFC history.

“It was a similar strategy that I was going to use against Renan,” he said. “So now, it’s not a surprise any more. Me and T.J. already fought, and I would love to fight him again.”

Assuncao, who most recently outpointed Pedro Munhoz at this past February’s UFC 170, said he wouldn’t take any other fights when he returned to the cage. He currently enjoys a six-fight win streak and stands to become the division’s most successful active bantamweight with Barao losing his first fight since 2005 and Francisco Rivera losing to Takeya Mizugaki.

The Brazilian feels he’s more than earned his shot.

“All respect with the matchmakers; they make the final [decision], but there’s no other fights for me right now,” Assuncao said. “[T.J.] thought he won the fight. Let’s do a rematch for the belt.

“Congrats to him. I’m happy for him. It worked out perfect. It’s a sport.”

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